Thursday, January 27, 2011

The kitchen is the most common gathering place in a home. In most homes, it truly is the heart of the home. It's where families are fed and friends are gathered. This is why it is so common for this particular space to stay unorganized and messy. After reading this blog you are going to have very helpful tools to help you get that clean, clutter-free kitchen you've always wanted.

Take a look at some good examples of bad, junky, cluttered kitchens!

How on earth does this person function in their kitchen?!? There is absolutely no work space.

There are no words for this...

For items such as spices and canisters of pasta, these do not need to be on display. Also, notice that there are 2 knife sets. I would remove the set above the stove. Even, though it's not on the counter it makes the space look crowded.

Please do not leave food out on your counter. There is a reason we have pantries. If you do not have a pantry, designate specific cabinets for food only.

A lot of people stack their small appliances or spoons next to one another on the counter. This looks junky and takes up valuable prep space.

Now, lets take a look at some great options to keep those countertops clutter free.

These are great options if you are remodeling or building a new house. Keep these ideas in mind for storage.

Bookshelves in the kitchen are great for cookbooks, magazines and to display items.

When you are designing a kitchen, keep in mind how many small kitchen appliances you have and use frequently. Appliance garages are a great way to hide the mixer, toaster oven, blender, etc...

This is a great looking bread box.

This is great for the small appliances that you use everyday. Pull out, push in.

For those of you who need functional storage ideas for your current kitchen take a look below.

Roll-out under cabinet drawers are a great way to make the most out of your storage. These allow you to completely use all of the space your cabinets have to offer. Click here to find out where to buy.

Baskets look great under a island or in open shelving. They are easy to pile stuff in and still look great. Crate and Barrel has a large selection of baskets you can choose from.

This is a great option for storing spices in a cabinet. I personally have this spice shelf in my kitchen and I love it. It's simple and functional. This can be purchased at your local Bed Bath & Beyond.

If anyone of you are like me, then your mail ends up on the kitchen counter. By the end of the week there is a HUGE mound of letters and magazines. The Container Store has great options to keep your mail organized.

Pottery Barn has great storage solutions. My father-in-law gave me the letter bin and dry-erase calendar for Christmas. I LOVE it! It looks great and keeps my mail off of my kitchen counter.

If your cabinets are packet tight and you simply must have your small appliances on your counter, you should think about using a cute appliance cover. These are easy to make or you can find them on Etsy.

This is cute for a fun, contemporary kitchen. I love the pocket for the spoon. This fabric is from Ikea. Check out Etsy for this exact cover.

This is such a cute toast cover. Check out Etsy to find others just like it.

Here are pictures of kitchens that are clutter free and look fabulous.

It is ok to have 1-2 small appliances out. Just make sure thats not the first thing you see when you walk into your kitchen.

This kitchen has lots of storage. Notice the appliance garage in the far corner. Also, the canisters and paper towel holder match.

Here are a few exceptions to clearing the clutter.

All of these kitchens are very appealing because the kitchen accessories match the theme of the kitchen. It is very important that the items that will stay on the counter color coordinate well with the rest of the kitchen.

Peter Walsh is an expert organizer and clutter-clearer gooroo. Check out his tips on how to keep your kitchen and dining room clutter free.

Try to set aside some time this weekend and clear the clutter off your kitchen counters. Send us pictures of your storage solutions and we'll post them on our blog.